Outstanding! Steve and the team were so perfect - teaching our three (16, 16 and 14 yo) the basics…read moreand all were riding waves confidently in first lesson. So much fun, we booked again same trip. Make sure you connect with Ric for quality pictures, costs extra and totally worth it.

We booked surf lessons via our hotel in advance of our trip. The surf school reached out to us a…read moreday before and told us our afternoon slot was cancelled, but we could be rescheduled to a morning slot, or get a refund. We picked the morning slot, then received instructions to go to mile marker 19 on Lahaina highway and look for a white Tacoma. We had decided to skip the rental car and use Lyft/Uber on this trip, so that was concerning. We were able to instruct the driver about the approximate location. There was a a row of pickup trucks with surfboards near mile marker 19, so we got out and asked around for Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy. Eventually we found the right Tacoma, but I didn't have much confidence we'd found the right spot for a while. My daughter had to have a solo lesson with Kayla due to her age, while my son and I had a semi private lesson with Chad. Our instructors were great, and we were able to stand up with a couple of tries, and a few turns later the instructor had me try a smaller board so I could turn more easily. About 1 1/2 hour into our two hour lessons both my son and felt salt water stinging our knees and lower thighs from chafing against the board, so we ended the lesson early. We were also pretty tired at that point. The surf school gave us long sleeved water shirts, but knee long shorts in the same fabric would have made big difference too. Our instructor told us the chafing is because they use teaching surf boards with a material that has more friction to make it easier to stand on the board, but it also causes more chafing than boards with wax. In the hurry to catch our car ride, we forgot to bring water, but my daughter's instructor very kindly gave us one of her personal water bottles. Thank you Kayla! All in all, we had a great introduction to surfing with a lot of successful attempts to catch waves. Two hours felt long for an intro session. I wish my instructor had told me to paddle a bit more easy out to save strength for catching waves but I also tend to go max all the time until I run out of gas. Above all, I highly recommend wearing at least knee long water shorts to prevent chafing knees and lower thighs. The instructors were amazing. If Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy also were to provide pants and water given the remote location, if say they would stand way up and above the competition.

"So glad I finally found you -- and so glad I didn't give up."…read more My last surf lesson in Maui was with Chyna, and it completely changed how I understood surfing. A little background about me: a middle-aged first time surfer, a basic swimmer and a big fan of basic snorkeling. Weekly workouts include gym weight lifting, kick boxing, yoga, and Lagree. And, I had a HUGE fear of wipeouts. Chyna and her friend Aina once ran a small water-sports business together, and they also volunteered teaching local kids to surf. They lost so much in the 2023 Lahaina fire, not to even mention that Aina is also a Maui firefighter. Thankfully, their families were safe. Knowing their story made Chyna's generosity, patience, and love for the ocean feel even more special. This was nothing like the two commercial surf lessons I had taken before: no photographer on shore, no rush to simply get me standing for a picture. In 2 hours, Chyna taught me how to respect and learn from the ocean: how to read the shoreline, reef and rocks, whitewater and green waves, wind, entry and exit points; how the board works; how to paddle, turn, control it, get through whitewater, and even use sound to judge an approaching wave. Most importantly, she corrected my popup technique and let ME decide whether to stand when each wave came. Once I stopped rushing and started learning the speed and timing of the wave, I was able to feel the freedom and pure energy from surfing. Even the whitewater that had scared me before stopped feeling intimidating: I didn't get knocked over ONCE! For the first time, I experienced what surfing can feel like when fear is no longer in control and I can actually listen to my body and the ocean. Chyna and Aina, I'm so grateful I found you. See you at the next wave!

My six-year-old son had a private surf lesson with Theo today, and the entire experience exceeded…read moreour expectations. From the initial communication and detailed information provided beforehand to the beautiful location and overall organization, everything was seamless and professional. Theo was an absolutely fantastic instructor. As a parent, I was nervous because my son had never surfed before, but Theo immediately put us at ease. He took the time to explain his approach, including why he wanted to start on smaller waves and ease my son into the experience rather than pushing too hard too fast. That thoughtful approach made all the difference. Theo was incredibly encouraging, motivating, and patient throughout the lesson. He paid close attention to my son's energy level and knew exactly when breaks were needed, which was especially important for a young child. He struck the perfect balance between building confidence and keeping the experience fun and positive. I was also extremely grateful for Theo's communication with us as parents. He kept us informed, answered our questions, and made us feel comfortable every step of the way. Overall, this was an outstanding experience, and I cannot recommend them enough!! If you're visiting and considering surf lessons, do it. In fact, I left wishing I had booked a lesson for myself as well! Thank you, Theo, for making my son's first surfing experience such a memorable and positive one.

Mahalo and thank you for an incredible time in the water. We had an amazing experience with Keep It…read moreSimple Maui! The online booking process through their website was quick and easy, making everything stress-free from the start. Our instructors, Lucho and John, were outstanding professional, patient, encouraging, and incredibly kind. They made my kids feel comfortable and confident in the water right away. There are multiple keep it simple instructors in the water and they all work together to keep everyone safe. What impressed us most was how successful they made the lesson. Our 19-year-old, 10-year-old, and 8-year-old were all standing up on their surfboards within the first 30 minutes and each caught multiple waves throughout the lesson! Thank you, Lucho and John, for creating such an unforgettable experience! Mahalo and thank you for an incredible time in the water. We had an amazing experience with Keep It Simple Maui! The online booking process through their website was quick and easy, making everything stress-free from the start. Our instructors, Lucho and John, were outstanding professional, patient, encouraging, and incredibly kind. They made my kids feel comfortable and confident in the water right away. There are multiple keep it simple instructors in the water and they all work together to keep everyone safe. What impressed us most was how successful they made the lesson. Our 19-year-old, 10-year-old, and 8-year-old were all standing up on their surfboards within the first 30 minutes and each caught multiple waves throughout the lesson! Thank you, Lucho and John, for creating such an unforgettable experience!

Everything about our experience was amazing!!! Our…read moreinstructors were Mario & Mario (AKA: The Mario Brothers) were incredible and so patient with all us. We surfed, laughed and created priceless memories Mahalo Mario Brothers, you are Ohana ‍‍‍‍

We did a first time lesson with them the day we left and it was such a great experience and way to…read moreend the trip! They were patient, kind, and very skilled! I highly recommend and would book with them again!

Chad and Dante were amazing. Easy to work with and really made our experience memorable. Our kids…read moreare 10 and 11 who surfed today. Chad actually took them surfing in 2020 pre covid when they were 7 and 8. He is so amazing with kids. I highly recommend it

Group lesson by Javier. Great teacher with sense of humor…read more Do it even if you aren't a swimmer. It's safe. Ride the wave on knees or feet if you can. Great experience. Thank you.

I can't tell you how happy we felt after leaving our surf instructor. H was wonderful and very…read morefriendly. We will definitely be coming back and I hope we get him again. When they say you will definitely get up on the board, believe them. He was so patient and explained everything thoroughly. Great experience! Thank you!

What a great experience with Local Pros Maui! Kevin was very easy to communicate with and super…read moreflexible as our plans needed to change. Our surf instructor Palani was amazing with our kids! They had a super fun time and I always felt safe. Palani was good at coaching my husband and I while spending most of the time with the kids. Recommend very highly! Also got some great photos from Alyssasky who photographed from the beach, for additional fees. She captured some awesome shots!

My son did the lesson and it was great. Nick was our instructor and was able to help move my son…read morearound quickly so he wasn't constantly fighting the whit wash. We have been working on surfing for close to a year, and with Nicks patients he was able to get my son surfing for the first time. Can't say enough good things about this lesson. Highly recommend

If you want to learn how to surf, go to these guys! We had Devon as our instructor and he was…read moregreat! His instructions were clear and simple to put to practice and we were surfing the first wave! It was a blast hanging with him out in the water. Make sure to get photos taken from them as well. We got plenty of amazing pictures we will have forever for great memories. Thank you to the whole staff for being so kind and welcoming!

Professional, friendly, on time, great guys. Our hotel concierge recommended them and I'm glad he…read moredid. Steve was my instructor and I was impressed with how assertive he was. He noticed my stiff joints and was able to make recommendations that really helped. I had taken a lesson a couple years ago in California and really didn't make it up, but with Steve's instruction I was able to ride a handful of waves!

We had an absolutely incredible experience with Rivers To The Sea Maui Surf Lessons! My two…read moredaughters took a lesson with Sharky, and I can't say enough good things about him. From the moment we arrived, he was friendly, patient, and clearly passionate about what he does. Sharky made the girls feel comfortable and confident right away, taking the time to explain everything in a way that was easy for them to understand. His energy was positive and encouraging the entire time, and you could tell he genuinely cared about making sure they had fun and succeeded. Both of my daughters were up and riding waves much sooner than I expected, and the smiles on their faces said it all. It was one of the highlights of our trip to Maui. If you're looking for a surf school that is professional, safe, and truly memorable, I highly recommend Rivers To The Sea--and if you can request Sharky, do it! We'll definitely be back next time we're on the island.

Eric was a great instructor! He made my wife and I feel at ease and confident getting up on the…read moreboard for our first times! We would definitely take another lesson and recommend him & the company!

Sherman Dean saved my life. No greater endorsement can be made of anyone whose job it is to keep…read moreyou safe in the ocean, much more so when they are off duty. I will certainly be coming back for lessons from this brave and selfless soul.

Wow! What an experience! This was by far the highlight of our trip to Maui! Our instructors Rebecca…read moreand Sherman did not only a great job taking us on an amazing surfing trip but also shared a lot of the local culture and history of the island. We didn't even feel like tourists! I've been surfing a few times before on the west coast and even tried a bit solo on Maui but you really need to know the best spots and have the right gear and they set us up for success. Highly recommended if you want an authentic experience.

Bully's surf school is the best in Maui! I have booked with Bully 3 times and will continue to do…read moreso whenever I visit. My dad and I met Bully in 2012 and he was our first instructor. He was so knowledgeable and helped my dad and I have fun on the water. He taught me how to paddle out smarter and the mentality to charge waves. My wife and I booked with Bully in 2025 and had an amazing time with his two professional staff instructors, 1:1. We just wrapped up our third lesson with Bully today--my wife and I rode so many waves it was a blast, and Bully made sure my mother-in-law crushed it during her first time surfing as well. Unlike chaotic group lessons, Bully brings a 1:1 approach where I feel safe and empowered out on the water. If you're traveling to Lahaina or Kaanapali booking a lesson with Bully Surf School is a must!

Surfing with Bully's surf school today was a truly magical experience. Bully's was highly…read morerecommended as the best surf school in Maui by a family friend who lives on the island. I would not hesitate to say Bully's is the best surf school in the world, not just Maui. Bully is an incredible teacher who shares his passion for surfing and respect for the ocean. Bully and his team of coaches made us all feel confident and safe in the water. Our entire family caught waves, including not just the kids, but the out of shape older ones too! Bully and his entire team of coaches (shout-out to Theo, James, and Ashley) were positive throughout the entire lesson. The energy was infectious. It was easy to try when we knew every attempt would be met with joy. It was incredibly helpful that even with a group lesson, we each had our own surf coach; we could each learn at our own paces and our coaches were able to give us personalized instruction. The equipment was top-of-the-line and really helped novice surfers like ourselves. The boards were light and forgiving and much better than typical foam boards. We can't wait to come back to Maui to take more lessons with Bully and his team. We made memories today that will last a lifetime and learned lessons that will remain in our hearts and guide us through life's challenges. Just breathe.... The world needs more people like Bully; an expert in his field who teaches with humility, kindness, positivity, and generosity. Lahaina Strong, Bully's Surf School!